Is taking biology, chemistry, and physics during my first year of college murder?

It depends upon your talents, interests and skills. If you love that stuff, you’ll do well.

Not murder. Suicide, maybe. Wait a little for at least one of those, why don’t you? Chemistry and biology have a lot of crossover, so maybe take one after the other.

All in one semester? YES.

I take it you’re going into your first semester? That’s a tough transition, you should try to make it smooth by not overloading yourself with crazy classes. Yes, take some of your requirements, but mix in some electives or gen ed courses to even out the load. This is especially true with sciences since they often involve both a lecture and a lab component.

Trust me on this. I’m a strong student myself, but I tried to take physics, biology and a math course in the same semester and… let’s just say it didn’t end well.

Bio and chem include labs in most universities. As @dpworkin said, if you’re really good at it, you won’t have any problems. But university level science is a lot of work. Just make sure you have no distractions and give it the required attention. I don’t know what calendar your uni follows. I’d suggest bio in spring, chem in summer, and physics (usually 6 credit hour) during the rest of your year.

Split them up if you can.

Yeah, it ain’t going to be fun, that’s for sure. I’d take two out of 3.

I wanted to major in the EXACT same thing.
As soon as I heard about all the physics, chem, and calculus you have to take, I decided I’m going to be an art major. Hah.

My mom was a wildlife bio. major. She said it was pretty brutal.

you are hardcore

my daughter did that and with a 7am lab…her first semester of college…I think it is difficult if you also want to have a life…just depends on what is required for your major and how committed you are to that field of study

Having taken those classes myself, I can attest to the fact that each one of those classes likely has a laboratory portion in addition to a classroom portion. My best suggestion would be to space out your schedule so that you have only one course with a laboratory portion per semester. Your college guidance counselor will probably give you the same advice. In fact, they’ll likely suggest that you focus on general-knowledge type classes during your freshman year, and only take one course specific to your major per semester.

You can get through all of these courses, but it’s best to space them out so you don’t get burnt-out, and end up disliking classes which you would otherwise enjoy.

All through High School I was in the Honors Program. I took AP Bio, got 1240 on the SAT, got a bunch of credit heading into college etc.

So naturally I thought I was the shit, and so did the guidance counselor who signed me up for Bio, Chem, Labs, and Math first semester.

Beginning Sophomore year I became a business major!

I would recommend taking one to two difficult classes at a time. Even one is ok. I don’t know why people want to graduate college so quickly, it’s a once in a lifetime experience, relish it while you can.

My recommendation always is, take one hard class and fill the rest of your schedule with at least one that you enjoy just for you, and the other prereqs your college is going to make you take. That way you can ace that class.

You will probably love college. If you did (like me), you would also stay in the summer sessions. I always used the summer session to take the difficult class that I really wanted to focus on. Taking one to two classes per summer is GREAT! You get to focus on a difficult class, AND still have most of your day to spend with friends etc.

Doing this, I was going to graduate on time, but I didn’t want to, so I took only 3 classes total per semester and one over summer. Senior year, I only had to take two classes per semester. This enabled me to get another year of college, and really focus on my classes, as well as join a business fraternity, and have a part time job, AND lounge around and just soak up the experience, all without having to really sweat it.

If you have to take two classes together, take them. But using my method, you can really excel in college and do what you want to.

I’m sure you will do great in science, but this method also allows you to change majors, IF you decide that after a year of college, biology isn’t what you want to spend your whole life doing. Otherwise, if you wanted to switch, you’d have to start completely over b/c you packed in so much science at once (assuming constant semesters like with curriculum like you mentioned).

There is NO rush. College is so much more than just classes. Give yourself the time to experience that.

Also, if you are going to do that anyway, don’t do it your first semester in college. There are way too many distractions. It’s a completely different track than you are on in highschool, and I think it’s too much to focus as much as you need to to pass all those classes and discover the intricacies of college life.

I think you will have to talk with the counselors at the college you are going to attend. For my daughter there was a set time-line of classes for her major. That sequence included taking Biology, Chemistry and Calculus together for multiple semesters. When she transferred to a different college they did not recommend having two sciences with a lab during the same semester but did also have a set sequence. It just depends on the major and the college…you may not have a choice but using the summer session may help as previously suggested…then again, you may want a break

A lot of hs achievers don’t realize how much support they receive. When you go to college, you’re pretty much on your own.

The year I did chemistry + physics + calculus at the same time was the worst year of my life. Mostly. There’s no reason to do that to yourself.

No, murder is during 1st year law.

I am doing that right now. Yes it is.

depends on the “studee!”

I did it, with calculus and English added to the mix. I just sucked it up and didn’t party much.

I did all three for my final years of high school, and I found it to be great. There was a lot of material that was repeated between the subjects. But then I wasn’t good at any of the ‘easy’ subjects. I had an easier time than some friends who did two of those and history.

Freshman year of college I did Chem 101/102 over summer and then Bio, Physics and Ochem all together in the same semester for two semesters straight (I & II for each subject). This was in addition to some other courses. If you have a good background in science, it’s definitely doable. Let me know if you have more Qs! =)

I took Organic Chemistry, Physics, and Calculus along with some other hard introductory classes my first year in college. I didn’t suffer too much (as I recall). My biggest mistake was scheduling an early physical education class way across the other side of campus when I could have just as easily slept in. I learned very quickly never to repeat that error (I also learned that you could skip way more classes in college than in high school….). Otherwise, I would agree with PnL that if you are motivated and hard working, you’ll do fine.

I didn’t read through all the other responses, but I’m sure mine is similar.

Not impossible, but do not do this first semester of first year. The transition to college/dorm life is big and you’ll find it hard to concentrate on school (which is much harder than high school) when you’re trying to explore your social life.

Since you’re a biology major, the biology and chemistry courses are probably going to be pre-reqs for other courses so take those first and mix in some GE/electives.

I’d take as few classes as possible and just enjoy meeting all the new people first semester.

No, but by the end of the year you’ll probably be commiting one or two… a la, Columbine.

When I was in college, the courses were mainly determined by your major, with those courses being taken in a certain order as suggested by your faculty adviser. Before you actually register for courses, talk to your adviser and find out what you need to take and when. Isn’t there a book from the school breaking down the various courses of study and the required classes? Don’t freak out about it. The school doesn’t want to overload students, especially freshmen, who may then drop out and take their tuition money with them.

My freshman year, I took Biology and Chemistry at the same time. It wasn’t that big of a deal. The labs were my favorite part, and while they took up a few hours a week, they didn’t add to my homework load. Even with a challenging course schedule, if you’re organized and motivated, you can stay on top of the work. Get to know your professors and don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it. You’ll do fine. :)

It’s a wonderful adventure and it will open your eyes if you got a deep desire to understand how the world really works.

Regradless of the mental ability of a person, these courses can be taken at different times, can they not? Why put yourself in a stressful situation….but, then again, a FEW people would not have a problem with taken all of these courses at the same time…like Einstein..loll

yep

If you are very bright and a good student, I think you could take 2 of the 3 and be successful. But that allows for no f$&%ing around.

I’d say, get all the tough/possibly boring cores out of the way now, so when you’re a senior and you’re attention span is near non-existent, you’ll have fun-er electives (and less pressure) on your sleeve before graduation… ;]

I don’t know, because I’m a freshman in high school. But, It sucks that it sounds like. Yes, another thing, the bio wildlife, you need to know anatomy & physiology, zoology, physics, biophysics, etc.. Too much science. Mainly science and a little Math.

Bad idea to take all three at once. Suicide is the right word. Give yourself a chance or you will freak and think you hate university before ever knowing what it really is. University is not like high school, if we’re talking 90+% of high schools. University is a lot tougher and less directed, plus god knows you are going to want to spend time socially. Not doing so is probably going to mean suicide x 2 later when you need a network to rely on to get through your degree.